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/In Eye for aq Eye" 



AND 



SomB Repriqied Pieces. 






"AN EYE FOR AN EYE" 



AND 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES 



^BY 



A. GLANVILLE 



AUTHOR OF "IN LAMECH's RKIGN", "CHAIN OF HISTORY' 

ETC. 



m 


i 


CHICAGO: 




A. FRANCOEUR & COMPANY 




570 W. HARRISON ST. 
1897. 





bl7'i 






Copyright, i8gy^ by A, Glanville. 
All rights reserved. 



PREFACE TO *'AN EYE FOR AN EYE." 



I believe all persons connected in any way with 
courts of justice should receive only stated salaries from 
the state. That there should be only a stated number 
of lawyers for each community, paid by the state. That 
there should be no private salaried servants allowed to 
tamper with the courts. That all cases should come reg- 
ularly before the courts and be disposed of in their reg- 
ular order by the proper court officials paid only by the 
state. In such case, the corporations and the rich would 
have no advantage over the poor — all cases being equal 
to the court — and they would not be able to monopo- 
lize the courts by their 07vn lawyers, paid with their own 
money, to do what they wanted done. If you speak to 
a lawyer on this subject he« will blandly tell you he 
studied law, graduated from a law college, in order 
to make it his business. He is ready to defend any case, 
be it a case of guilt or innocence, for money. While 
realizing that it is not for me ' 'to set the crooked straight" 
I excuse myself for meddling by pointing to the precedent 
that it was one of my distinguishd forefathers who helped 
build the law of the Romans.* As to the poem itself I 
have little to say, save that this is the second time it has 
been written. The first time was when I first began my 



* A Latin treatise on law by Glanvile is spoken of in 
Spalding's English Literature. 



courtship of the Muses, and not becoming known to 
Fame at once, I gathered together this and several 
others and consigned them to the flames, vowing to write 
no more. Perhaps some might say it were better to have 
kept my vow, or to have burned this also, but, nHmporte, 
if it does no other good than to relieve my memory of 
its burden that shall be worth its little cost — for I war- 
rant the reader now it is put forth I shall be one of the 
first to forget it, 

A. GLANVILLE. 

May 6th, 1897. 



(( 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE." 



The worthy priest bent with his years entered 

the prison cell, 
Of christian love and charity the prisoner to 

tell; 
But on an ear to merey deaf his kindly sentence 

fell; 
And on a spirit tempered with the bitterness of 

hell. 



The mark of Cain was on the brow, the lip was 

turned in scorn — 
He seemed more wronged than wronger as the. 

prisoner stood that morn 
Like one defiant, not in fear, and told an angry 

tale, 
How love and hope and joy and fear had passed 

beyond the pale: 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 8 

On England's rugged coast there stood a cottage 
years ago, 

And seasons came apace and went with crippled 
step and slow; 

The springtime changed to summer and to au- 
tumn's foggy rain 

And winter's dreary sleet that beat upon the 
window pane. 

And nestling stood the village round while wind- 
ing on between 

The pathway led the eye along to where the 
church was seen; 

Upon the strand old Neptune spread the blue 
cloak that he wore, 

Which summer sprinkled with the sails she scat- 
tered from the shore. 



Away to the right the hill stood out with mossed 
and hazled side, 

As though some robe of shaggy fur would na- 
ture's bareness hide — 

While further to the right what seemed a shoul- 
der bare to be, 

The white and barren cliff sank down into the 
bubbling sea. 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 



I loved a maiden living in that cottage by the 
sea, 

And I was all to her and she was all in all to 
me; 

Since boy and girl our love had changed not 
with the changing years, 

'We gladly mingled smiles with smiles and ming- 
led tears with tears. 



Dame fortune ne'er in this small spot had shown 

a lavish hand — 
No riehes of the world nor that which riches 

could command, 
No paintings old and boasting of an artist 

known to fame, 
But happiness made glad the home that little 

else could claim. 



No gems to add their beauty to what nature 

fashioned fair. 
But costumed neat my love was sweet whatever 

she might wear. 
So Phoebus kissed the morning mist and love 

was on the hill, 
And rosy was the future hope and youth was in 

the will. 



10 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 



And deep I walked the winding drift and knew 
no enemy, 

I swung the hammer and the pick and sang the 

miners' glee; 
I rained the blows upon the gad that split the 

stubborn ore, 
Aye, rough the hand at eve that raised the latch 

upon the door. 

So deep we sought the hidden tin we heard the 

ocean roar* 
Far o'er our heads when storm- tossed waves 

were hurled upon the shore — 
Unthought all sounds save pence and pounds 

and what the brawn could earn, 
As down the drowsy candle did the steady 

hours burn.f 

No parasite was I, father, a worker at the side 
Of other workers whom the world had roughly 

tossed and tried. 
We asked no favors of the world, but while the 

candle burned 

We valiant fought the battle for the wages that 
we earned. 

*Dicken's Child's History of England. 
tMmers' way of telling time. 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. ii 



So passed the days along betwixt our love and 

labor filled, 
And balanced seemed the heavenly spheres and 

all as God had willed. 
I kissed the lips of my promised bride and 

youth was in the will 
And the moonbeams kissed the twilight mist 

and love was on the hill. 



Aye, life went laughing onward like the pure 

purling stream. 
And golden days and jeweled nights made up 

our happy dream — 
With hearts awake to looks that spake what nev 

er a lip could say. 
So cupid wooed with merry mood and all the 

world was gay. 

O! siren scenes of fate that float before my vis- 
ion yet! 

O bitter curse of memory! O could I but for- 
get!— 

And in the prisoner's countenance his love and 
anger met, 

And hate and pity seemed to echo "could I but 
forget!" 



12 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

But then a gleam came in his eye, and scorn 
insatiate, 

For hearts that hotly love are hearts that just as 
hotly hate, 

And from his raised arm the good priest sank 
back with affright 

As in impassioned wrath he rose to full his man- 
hood's height: 

Cursed be the day or damned the night that 

marked one villain's birth 
Whose craven life was spent to spoil the pure of 

the earth — 
No absolution for such souls! to everlasting 

hell 
Down may he sink, down, down, as far as ever 

satan fell ! 



For such a villain was, father, and such a vil- 
lain came 

Upon this happy life of ours all free from breath 
of blame; 

Nor far removed his low desires above the 
prowling beast, 

His form was all from lower species nature had 
released. 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 13 

He came, he loved my love — for that I blamed 

him not, 
For more of beauty was hers, father, than came 

to the common lot; 
He loved her? no! such villains ne'er know what 

true love may be, 
For his heart was rolled in his yellow gold and 

only his lust was free. 

But he was nothing to her, father nor could he 

ever be, 
For the love of the maiden living in the cottage 

by the sea. 
Her honest love was mine alone and never a 

prince or king 
With gilded part could win her heart whatever 

the offering. 



And she told him no, and bade him go but he 

laughed in his meaning way, 
And flattered her still against her will and fol 

lowed her day by day, 
Till her woman's heart grew sore afraid and 

filled with a vague alarm. 
But I laughed at the thought that his coward 

heart would dare to work us harm. 



14 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

So her heart grew free as she laughed with me 
and the lingering kiss was sweet, 

When we said good-night 'neath the pale moon- 
light and whispered when next we'd meet— 

And whispered when next we'd meet, and whis- 
pered when next we'd meet — 

We thought not how one would be cold in death 
in the hour when next we'd meet ! 



O where shall love abide, father, when face and 

form are gone? 
The voice we list and the lips we kissed and the 

cheek as red as dawn — ■ 
When these have run the glass, I say, and the 

empty world is wide, 
And living signs have vanished, father, where 

doth love abide? 



We whispered when again we'd meet, I recked 
not of the pain, 

But in my heart, 'tis here, father, and it is in 
my brain — 

His lust engendered passion was afired with an- 
ger's breath, 

He could not move her honor so he sent her to 
her death! 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 15 

Aye, in the grime of a coward's crime he sank 
his bastard soul — 

He threw her body o'er the cliff into the bil- 
lows' roll. 

And many an other eye than mine through 
blinding tears did note 

The marks of his damned fingers on my sweet- 
heart's lily throat. 

Fair was the day she rowed away as a thousand 

times before, 
Nor hint of death in the sighing breath which 

hung around the shore; 
But her boat came drifting back alone, nor oar 

was in the thole, 
And the saddened waves brought sobbing in her 

body 'thout her soul. 

And all my life grew sudden dark as night with- 
out a ray; 

Within my heart love's blaze died down into 
the ashes gray. 

I only know I staggered on as one might blind- 
ly grope, 

For the hand that struck my love away had 
murdered, too, my hope. 



i6 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

Love's June had passed and August, too, and 
winter 'gan to mould 

His icy cone around my heart that grew so 
deathly cold, 

Till like a sudden conflagration's breath insa- 
tiate 

My life burst forth with thought of him into a 
burning hate. 

My passion ran the full, father, for life was 

young and strong, 
And hate was burning in my heart for him who 

did the wrong — 
I lost my love and hope, father, my love and 

' hope — what then? 
I swore I'd track the demon down if e'er he 

lived with men! 



Calm thyself, the father said, give not away to 

hate. 
We needs must let the wrongs of life to Him 

who guideth fate. 
•'Vengence is mine" hath said the Lord; your 

heart and mine will find 
That one hath suffered more than all and yet 

his heart was kind. 



\ 
<. 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 17 

Aye, so they told me then, and so they calmed 
my passion then. 

They begged me leave it to the courts and to 
their chosen men; 

They mocked me saying "wrong's avenged with- 
in the prison-pen", 

They mocked me when they said "truth crushed 
to earth will rise again". 

But they inclined me to their way and much 

against my will, 
For my heart did feel like tempered steel that 

anger edged to kill; 
And I put my thoughts aside, father, and trusted 

in the law. 
And put the hope of my revenge into a Croesean 

maw! 



Then slowly came the weary train of justice' 

dull detail, 
Warrants, writs, and witnesses, that make a 

tedious tale; 
And some were bought with the gold he brought 

from the counter and the bourse, 
When they brought the wretch before the bar 

that the law might have its course. 



i8 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

Ah, yes! the law did have its course, but justice 

was'nt there, 
For wage and wealth is linked, father, in law 

as everywhere; 
And barristers know as well as he who wears 

the judge's gown, 
That the man to praise is he who lays the cold, 

hard guineas down. 

For law doth try the word of man and gold 
doth buy the word, 

And poverty's hope for a verdict fair is pov- 
erty's hope deferred. 

Law's learned, persuasive eloquence is on the 
market list, 

And he may buy whose bid is high and hath 
the gilded grist. 

When learning shall defend a lie, I say away 

with schools, 
'Twere better far an unlearned world filled up 

with honest fools; 
'Tis said woe came to him who hid his talent 

in the ground, 
But what of him who shines it up and sells it 

for a pound? 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 19 

And so he brought the legal talent of an evil 

day, 
To use their legal eloquence to brush the truth 

away; 
They knew full well the secret of the labyrinth 

of laws, 
And straight they sent the argument against a 

righteous cause. 

Nor scarce nor strange the bold exchange of 
money for a lie — 

They buy, they sell, the thoughts of hell al- 
though the price is high; 

And he threw the curse of his bribing purse to 
greed and poverty. 

Their souls they sold for the murderer's gold 
and gave him — liberty! 



They set him free from all but me, but I sware 

by hell below 
And heaven above and every form of oath that 

lip doth know 
That I would live to lay his craven figure at my 

feet, 
And pityless my hopeless heart that he some° 

time would meet! 



20 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

An eye for an eye, this was my cry as I went 

to rest at night, 
An eye for an eye, this was my cry as I rose 

with the morning light; 
The hatred kept aburning, burning, ever in my 

mind, 
While day by day I worked beside my partners 

rough but kind. 

They thought that I would soon forget and love 
would wake again. 

They thought that I would bear the wrongs of 
life as other men. 

They thought that I, as other men, would curse 
life's wrong and strife, 

And then go on enduring wrong and live op- 
pression's life. 



My love Avas dead, my hope was fled, and 

stretched the darkness on, 
The law had played me traitor, too — so far the 

game had gone: 
And now it came my turn to deal, and I played 

my hand with care. 
And blood was in the shuffle for the game had 

notJ^een fair! 



AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 21 

I kept my council to myself, but dull my hatred 

burned, 
Afresh with fuel fed as oft as thoughts of him 

returned; 
My keen revenge had edged with time when 

came the day I longed — 
My heart was stone when we met alone, the 

wronger and the wronged. 

I scorned him living and scorned him dead, 

and finished that was planned. 
An eye for an eye, this was my cry as he 

sank before my hand — 
I plunged my dagger in his heart and threw 

him in the sea. 
And they put me in the prison cell with the 

gallows over me. 

What then? — why, it is plain what then, for I 

could boast no friend 
With riches and with influence my plain case 

to defend — 
And what cared I if I might buy the men who 

dealt the law — 
My life is dark, my death is light e'en through 

the gallow's draw. 



22 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

So slight a thread doth hold the joys of this 

fast fleeting life, 
And happy is he on land or sea with home and 

babe and wife, 
Who knoweth every day to love, by sweet 

hope to be led, 
Nor gropes his way through a sunless day 

where hope and love are dead. 



Again there came the morning sun and smiled 

with kindly care 
Between the bars of the prison cell, but found 

no prisoner there, 
For the soul had gone before the dawn and the 

morning light fell o'er 
The prisoner's body cold in death upon the 

prison floor. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 23 



NATURE THE GREAT PREACHER. 



God's voice is harmonious and sweet in- 
deed. He speaks through the spring blossoms. 
He whispers in the breeze that rustles the new 
leaves. The opening flowers send up their 
sweet incense to Him. This is not fancy, for 
the Lord is not only Lord of men but "Lord 
of all." 

The Lord is not a dweller in tents nor tab- 
ernacles, and the church is not large enough 
for Him. "He plants His footsteps in the sea 
and rides upon the storm." He resteth among 
the trees of the forest; He walks over the hills 
and He loves the flowers. Did not His prophet 
say, "Consider the lilies"? He spake not so 
plain to Solomon in the temple as to David in 
in the fields; where David sang his sweet 
songs — to the stars? Ah, no! but where his 
soul sang to the Greater Soul that ruled the 
stars. St. John heard the divine voice on the 
Isle of Patmos, and Savonarola at Ferara. 
Burns heard it on the banks of Ayr and Shak- 
speare on the banks of Avon. The most beau- 



24 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

tiful thing ever written, Psalm xxiii, does it 

not say "He maketh me to lie down in green 

pastures. He leadeth me beside the still wa- 
ters"? 

Be not afraid of your own meditations, O 
friend. Solitude has made more grand men 
than society. Go forth into the sunshine of 
God's friendship; as a laborer resteth beneath 
the boughs of a summer tree, so rest thou in 
the shelter of a Father's love. Forget thy teach- 
er's precepts. Gut loose from all creeds and 
dogmas. Think, examine, prove for thyself. 
What thou findest that is beautiful, good, true, 
store it away in thy heart. What thou findest 
that, in the light of history and reason, is false, 
put aside though it be that which thou hast 
held dear for three-score years. But, you say, 
what will you give us for this that nas been 
our staff and our comfort in days past? I an- 
swer, the truth: do you desire more than this? 



TAKE ALL. 

Since thou hast won my hope and heart 
In love's sweet, languid game. 

Take now — wilt thou? — mine only part 
That's left to lose- -my name. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 25 



MEDITATION WHILE SITTING NEAR A 
CONVENT. 



Is good philosophy bad business? Is the 
Mooial tie a mistake? Is there weakness in un- 
ion? and contamination in the touch of broth- 
ers and sisters? Is the house that God himself 
built not good enough for his servants? I 
thank God I am not too good for this world — 
this beautiful world — where I have seen His 
handwriting in the woods, where the flowers 
bloom, the birds sing, and the stars play hide 
and seek with the summer clouds. I find no 
fault because the rain falls upon the just and 
the unjust, and I judge not the thief who robs 
me, for I know not whether the fault be his or 
his parents', nor the necessity of his condition. 
Perhaps I should have given him my purse 
without compulsion; and, after all, if the earth 
be a common heritage, are not the fruits there- 
of his also as well as mine? 

It is easy to be good alone — shut in from 
all the world's sinfulness and wrong-doing — but 
thereby do we cut ourselves off from the field 



26 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

and our harvest must rot in the stock. I like 
a brave man to face the world. Righteousness 
hath never feared the people. A closed house 
hath a suspicious look, and < 'a warm saloon is 
more comfortable than a cold church". Per- 
haps if some of us were Jess good and more 
helpful the world w^ould be the better for it. 
If we would follow our Master we need build 
no walls of brick and stone between us those 
He loved, and among whom He v^ent about do- 
ing good. Must it be a standing challenge 
that "every stoic was a stoic, but where in 
Christendom is the christian?" 

How futile are thy efforts, O dwellers within! 
'■^Nul ne se derobe dans ce monde au del bleu, 
aux arbres verts, a la nuit sombre, au bruit dii 
vent, au chant des oiseaux. Aucune creature 
ne pent s'^abstraire de la creati07i.^^ Was it not 
the happiest moment in the life of Goldsmith's 
hermit when the love of his youth came back 
to him? — 

No, never, from this hour to part, 

We'll live and love so true, 
The sigh that rends thy constant heart 

Shall break thy Edwin's, too. 

It is the duty of no man to live apart from 
mankind. It would be well for you to think that 
"virtue is not heriditary"; and "if we believe 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 27 

the powers of hell to be limited we must be- 
lieve their agents to be under some control"; 
and to know that the sum of sacrifice is not 
made up so much of a few heroic dangers as it 
is of little tortures. 

Better far receive the praise of one wise 
man than the applause of all the fools. You 
will find more joy on the rough path of hon- 
esty than that of refined deception; and know 
also that it is not how long we live but how 
much. Ask thyself, O ye who would hold 
aloof from the world, as we uplift God do we 
also rise? or as we establish him farther in the 
heavens are we putting Him farther from us? 
As we make Him more spiritual do we make 
Him more spectral? Will He become a ghost 
to us? 

Lose not thyself so much in the solitary 
pursuit of the unseen, but come near unto the 
people, for they can do without thee far better 
than thou canst do without them: then also 
will you find your Guide as well as theirs. 

Hold thou thy good: define it well; 
For fear divine Philosophy 
Should push beyond her mark, and be 

Procuress to the Lords of Hell. 



28 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



VIRTUE. 



It is an evident fact he who adds to the 
happiness of his fellow beings is a good man; 
that he who adds more to their happiness is a 
better man; that he who adds most to their 
happiness is the best of men. Happiness is the 
test of virtue as it is the ever-following effect 
of it. If the effect of a virtuous act is felt not 
by myself but by my brother it is no less an 
act of virtue; if the effect be not immediate, 
somewhere, sometime it will be manifest. To 
judge one's conduct by the effect it has on the 
doer is to judge selfishly; we can only trulj 
judge by considering its effect on all. Christ's 
life was a life of virtue not because it was hap- 
py in itself—for who bore more griefs than He? 
—but because it saved men from everlasting 
damnation and terror, and opened wide the 
doors of heaven and peace and joy to all men 
forever. Hence Christ's life is said to be the 
model at which all honest men will look, for 
who can conceive of bringing more happiness 
to mankind than eternal happiness? Though 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 29 

none can be as sublime as He, though he was 
the Light of the World,we all' can, in our lowly 
way, be lesser lights. Perhaps we cannot hope 
to be a Paul, a Luther, a Milton or a Washing- 
ton, and like an undimmed star live for all time 
and all men, but we can at least, though we be 
common mortals, sit at our own fireside and 
add to the enjoyment of those around us by 
our good- will and cheerfulness. 

Humility becomes most men better than 
grandeur. All men were not born to be great 
but undoubtedly all were born to be good, else 
evil would have the approbation of the wise, 
and good would be shunned by the godly. 
Virtue creates its own heaven as vice does its 
own hell. Vice has its pleasures of brutalism 
and. sensuality but they are as brief as the rose 
that blooms and dies even as we gaze upon it. 

Who follows vice is first haunted by his 
conscience, then made wretched by contem- 
plating the loss of all that was worthy of noble 
effort, and memory, in his latter days, is preyed 
upon by remorseful demons that make his life 
a curse. Go follow it, all fools, for its reward! 
True men will follow virtue that brings to its 
possessor that nobleness which is the keynote 
of an honored life: who has it loves all men, to 
himself is true, and is already entering into 



30 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

that heaven which knows no sorrowing heart. 
His life is like the goodly tree, beautiful in its 
early bloom, loved for its usefulness, and grand 
with its load of ripened fruit. He is the at- 
traction round which a little world revolves: 
by example he sways, perhaps unconsciously, 
the lives of those with whom his lot is cast; to 
them he is the light and the way. 



REFLECTIONS ON THE FALL OF MR. 



Popularity is as blinding as the glitter of 
gold. So few look back of the sunshine into 
the shadow of things. It is mystifying to learn 
how few people know what they live for. As 
an experiment, ask your friends what they have 
planned to accomplish during three-score years 
and ten — the allotted time of man— and learn 
as. a result, how many live for themselves and 
the day, and how few for mankind and the 
years. And yet is all preaching, all moral 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 31 

writing, all philosophy, all religion forever 
saying that real happiness is the follower of 
goodness, and goodness is virtue and honesty 
active in the service of the race. 

It is so easy to give advice, so inconvenient 
to do things. It is a popular criticism against 
ministers and moralists that they tell you of 
the need and expect you to do what they have 

not the heart to attempt. There are a multi- 
tude of advisers, but few leaders. 

Evil things are evil anywhere and always; 
and, indeed, when we speak of them a whisper 
is heard afar off. We need not publish in black 
headlines the unholy things of the earth. 
Those who have the desire will know them 
soon enough. Far better would it be were we 
so active in concealing them as we are in hold- 
ing them up to ridicule; far better to fill up the 
columns of our papers and books with applause 
for the meritorious than blame for the un- 
righteous. They are some of the "least of 
these my brethren." But blessed is he who is 
so chivalrous as to be the defender of virtue 
and the upholder of what is pure and noble. 
Yes, blessed is he, for women are not and can 
never be, the ones to purify the earth. 

The uplifting of the world depends upon 
the purity of men. As long as men think it 



32 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

manly to overcome and drag down the virtue 
of womanhood; as long as courtship and mar- 
riage is held to be so flippant a thing, so long 
will social conditions continue as they are. 
When men shall learn that nobleness is made 
up of valor and purity in equal parts; w^hen 
their souls are touched with love instead of 
lust; when they are defenders, not betrayers of 
maidenhood and womanhood— then, and not 
till then, will come the reorganization and up- 
building of the social system. 



A RHYME. 

Time is nothing, heroes live 

For ages in an hour. 
'Tis something, too, for who would give 

For withered stalk the flower? 

But how love resembles time 

Is no riddle hard to guess; 
Quick it falls in running rhyme — 

Love and time are measureless. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 33 



THE MYSTIC SCENE. 



While sojourning in a certain place, one 
beautiful day I was strolling along a delight- 
fully green meadow meditating on the mani- 
fold beauty of nature, now and then stopping 
to listen to the songs of the birds, or stooping 
to pluck some modest wild flower, when com- 
ing in the course of my walk beneath a grand 
old shade tree which grew beside the pathway, 
I stretched myself upon the fresh grass and 
taking a volume of Addison from my pocket 
began reading "The Vision of Mirza." I 
became drowsy and soon fell asleep, and 
dreamed the following singular dream: 

While walking in the same valley an old, 
gray-haired man carrying a stout walking-stick, 
accosted me. Politeness being the child of lei- 
sure, and reverence for old age part of a gentle- 
man's duty, we conversed on divers topics and 
was passing the time agreeably when, breaking 
in upon my thoughts rather abruptly, he asked 
if I had ever looked upon the Mystic Scene, 
which, he said, might be viewed from the sum- 
mit of the hill which he pointed out to the 



34 SOME REPRINTED PIECES, 

right. Upon my answering in the negative he 
seemed surprised, and upon my saying that I 
had not before heard of it, astonished. "If 
you will be pleased to view it," said he, "I 
will accompany you, and point it out, and, as 
I have many times seen it and heard it spoken 
of, I may be able to interpret it to you." 

Gladly accepting his proffered kindness, we 
started in the direction of the hill and soon 
reached the top, for my companion though my 
senior by many a year was still vigorous, and 
seemed as little wearied as I upon reaching our 
destination. "This way," said he, "to the 
left." Looking in the direction in which his 
finger pointed 1 saw not far beyond us a city — 
of which we had a kind of bird's eye view — 
and in the midst of the city was what seemed to 
be a public square or park. Occupying a con- 
spicuous 2:)lace among a group of beautiful 
buildings on one side of this j^ublic square was 
one surpassing them all in grandeur, which, my 
companion informed me, was the ruler's man- 
sion, round which were clustered the legislative 
halls, all of which were connected with the 
public square or park by numerous little paths 
and by-ways. This public square was filled 
with an innumerable throng of people that 
seemed to be divided into several parties or 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 35 

factions, and among each party or faction were 
a small number particularly noticeable. In 
confusion of mind I turned to my companion 
who spoke as follows: 

<'The city, I am told, represents an ancient 
nation of which the conspicuous buildings you 
have noticed are the capitol. The crowd of 
people separated into different parties are the 
elective portion of the nation's population. 
Those who are particularly noticeable are the 
chosen representatives of their respective par- 
ties, and are endeavoring with the aid of their 
followers to gain an entrance into the capitol 
and legislative halls, aiid thus get possession 
of the government. They who have the larg- 
est number of followers at a specified time 
will be admitted to the positions they seek and 
will be the honored rulers of the people. Ob- 
serve and you will see the manner of proceed- 
ing." 

Turning again and watching intently the 
throng of people I saw a number of persons 
going from one to another and from place to 
place, exhorting them to some purpose, en- 
deavoring undoubtedly to change their opin- 
'^ions and win them from one side to the other. 
Another mode was, in the words of my com- 
panion, "trading a number of the common peo- 



36 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

pie for one of the leaders.'* "But," said I, "is 
this not betraying the people?" "Indeed it is," 
said he, "and we may congratulate ourselves 
that such infidelity to the (jommon weal oc- 
curred only in the ancient times." Still an- 
other mode employed was the distributing of a 
kind of metal coin, which seemed to pass for 
an article of worth among the people, upon 
the receipt of which a number of persons left 
the one side for the other. This method, the 
old man said, was used only by those who were 
both rich and dishonest, and never, nor could 
be, by the honorable or those embarrassed by 
pecuniary circumstances; "this mode," said he, 
"I understand is practiced in politics even to 
this day." 

Again observing closely I noticed that one 
party was rapidly increasing in numbers while 
another, which was worthy of note because of 
its honorable actions toward the people, which 
were manifested by their not persuading them 
over much, but leaving them the liberty of 
personal choice, neither using any dishonest 
method, lost many by the persuasive oratory 
of the opposition and many by the coin, and 
not employing these methods in return, the 
number they won was small in comparison with 
the number they lost: and to my astonishment 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 37 

this party which seemed the most worthy be- 
gan to fall behind, while those using other 
means than they seemed to promise fair to 
gain the desired end. As time passed and the 
sun began falling in the west, the excitement of 
the crowd seemed rather to increase than to 
diminish. I was about to speak to my compan- 
ion when I observed a great commotion among 
those in the square, and immediately some left 
and went to different parts of the city. The 
majority, however, manifested great delight, 
as those frequently do who have been winners 
in certain games; and to my astonishment, I 
beheld the representative of that party which 
had not scrupled to use any and all means for 
the accomplishment of its purpose, conducted 
midst the waving of plumes and the fluttering 
of flags into the ruler's mansion. Turning to 
my companion I asked, "what is the meaning 
of this Mystic Scene?" 

"This," said he, "represents the survival 
of the fittest in politics." 



GRANT. 

'Tis well indeed some sign that meets the eye 
Should show to other lands we love the brave, 
But as for us no monument needs send 
Its finger- point toward our azure sky 

Lest we forget his erstwhile lonely grave*, 
America hath ne'er forgot a friend! 



38 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



SUTHERS' SAFE. 



"I was clerking for Tom Sutliers when it 
happened," said the speaker, and we Settled 
ourselves comfortably to hear the story. It was 
no esj^ecial gathering, quite the opposite; we 
were' in the habit of dropping in the postoffice, 
which was — as in most country towns — postof- 
fice and general store in one, of an evening to 
spend an idle hour or so. Sometimes we talked 
politics, sometimes war, somtimes religion, 
generally the little end of everything, and 
precious little good it ever brought to any of 
us. This jDarticular evening somehow the con- 
versation had drifted on to heroism, what the 
common people — which class we seldom talked 
about at all — did or would do under dangerous 
circumstance, when Tom, the postmaster, de- 
cided to give us a scrap of his own experience. 

"I was a young fellow when I began clerk- 
ing," he continued, "and besides counting 
eggs and weighing sugar, one of my duties 
was to sleep in the store at night; or rather to 
stay in the store, for I don't think Suthers 
cared whether I slept any or not. He was a 



%• 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 39 

peculiar kind of a aian, and would have had 
little custom had he any opposition; but as it 
was Suthers, nothing, or ten miles to the next 
town, it was Suthers. Well, one of his queer 
ideas was that a little iron safe that he had in 
the corner was burglar- proof; and if he had a 
million dollars, you know, it had been just like 
him to put it in that safe, tell everybody of it, 
and go to the land's end, having the idea that 
no one on earth could touch his money but 
himself. I was to sleep in the store at night ; 
I suppose it was so that I might be there early 
in the morning; but while I had less faith in 
the security of Suthers' safe than he had, I 
wasn't at all alarmed over the situation for two 
reasons: that nothing in the nature of a rob- 
bery had happened in the village since my re- 
collection; and, that we never had enough 
money in the store to be any temptation to a 
decent burglar anyhow. 

"I had my share of conceit, of course, and 
I didn't think that I could be any more easily 
scared than the next one; besides, I took especial 
pride in my skill in handling the revolver, and 
I openly boasted that if any burglars ever came 
into Suthers' store I would put out their head- 
light with neatness and dispatch. Well, the 
time dragged along as usual, adding little to 



40 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

my salary or experience, and I bad towatch the 
calendar to tell Tuesday from Thursday. Noth- 
ing extraordinary happened on the day of the 
robbery. 1 opened the store as usual, swept 
out, took in a little produce, sold a few things 
during the day, Suthers took his daily nap by 
the stove, the money was counted and put in 
the little safe in the corner, and I closed up 
for the night. Blowdng out all the lights but 
one, as I always did, I took a novel and sat 
down to read. I can't say how long I sat there. 
I know that I was interested and read until I 
was very sleepy, and about the last thing I 
knew was that the oil in the lamp was nearly 
all gone and the light was getting dim. Then 
I suppose I fell asleep, for I remember nothing 
from that time until — " 

"Tom," said one of the party, with a back- 
ward throw of the head, "somebody wants the 
mail." 

'Somebody' had entered, not for the purpose, 
I suppose, of interrupting the story, but it did 
so. We settled ourselves more comfortably, 
refilled o u r pipes, recrossed our legs, and 
awaited Tom's return. 

<'Where was I," said he, taking his place. 

"You went to sleep," I said. 

"O yes! Well, the first thing I knew was 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 41 

that there was some one in the store. I don't 
know what woke me, but I awoke and was con- 
scious that I was not the only one there. The 
first thing I did — and the most natural thing 
in the world, I suppose — was to keep still — and 
listen; and I was not long in dicovering that 
there were two or three persons besides myself 
in the store. I couldn't see anybody or any- 
thing except the front of that little iron safe 
in the corner, on which was thrown the light 
of a bull's eye lantern. I was sufficiently awake 
now to take in the situation. The store was 
being robbed! Now, gentlemen, I'll be hon- 
est; I was scared. You want to remember that 
it was sometime along the middle of the night; 
it was pitch dark, and there is always some- 
thing in darkness that takes away a little of a 
man's valor. There were two burglars, how 
desperate I could not tell. I had my revolvers, 
it's true, but I had fired off one of them a day 
or so before and had forgotten which one it 
was. 

"What was I to do? I made up my mind 
to get out of there as soon as possible. For- 
tunately for me they were so intent with their 
work that I crept along towards them — for the 
door was only a few feet from the safe — with- 
out being heard. If I could reach the door in 



42 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

safety, rush out, there was a chance of escape; 
otherwise there was none, as they would, as a 
matter of course, take all that was convenient 
and of any value from the store. In my excite- 
ment I had instinctively grasped one of my re- 
volvers, but aside from this, my hopes rose as 
I neared the door. I was yet creeping stealth- 
ily along when to my utter consternation, look- 
ing up, I saw another guarding the doorway! 
My chance was gone. There was only one 
thing to do now, to pluck up courage and de- 
fend myself and Suthers' safe. 

"I fixed my eyes on the door of that little 
safe in the corner and began to watch. I could 
see the bar being moved around the door of 
the safe, and at last it gave way and the door 
was taken off. 'Here's some silver, anyway,' 
I heard one of them say, and having planned 
my actions I rose and said as boldly as possible, 
*and you had better not handle it, it's danger- 
ous I' Now I have no doubt in my mind of 
their being frightened. They made a rush for 
the door, then stopped--! have thought since 
they sup}>osed that others were waiting for 
them outside; but I tried my revolver and it 
happened I had the loaded one. I fired the five 
charges as they dashed out through the open 
door. So far I was conqueror, and taking ad- 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 43 

vantage of the opportunity to close the door, 
I did so hastily, relocked it and rolled one of 
the barrels against it. Then I walked up and 
down that floor with my hair on end till morn- 
ing. At last I heard steps coming up the side- 
walk, on to the porch, and somebody shook the 
door. 

*< 'Who's there?' I yelled. 

"Something was said w^hich I failed to 
make out, and without lowering my voice in 
the least I said, 'if you open that door I'll 
blow the top of your head off.' 

" 'What's the matter with you? open the 
door' came back in a voice that with a genuine 
thrill of pleasure I recognized as Suthers'. 

" 'I opened the door and together we be- 
gan an investigation. Suthers' safe was a 
wreck beyond repair, and Suthers could not 
have more utterly collapsed had the moon fallen 
upon him; pursuit of the burglars was un- 
thought of; the fact of his having nothing stol- 
en was n o consolation. Suthers' safe was 
busted! I left him sitting in a chair, an object 
for the hardest heart to pity, and went out to 
take a glance at the front. I must have struck 
some- of them for there were drops of blood on 
the sidewalk. 



44 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



NAPOLEON'S SOLILOQUY AT ST. HELENA. 



Who is there dares to say what greatness 
thought? 
And when the fires of genius stirs the mind 
Its aerial flights are not for little wings: 
And I who lived not' in Napoleon's time, 
Unfashioned by the ethics of his age, 
Do only speak the words ujDon the scroll 
By wandering Muses writ, who heard him run 
The gamut of his passion to the full, 
As by that fated isle they passed when 'twas 
A falien emperor's prison; 

Fame, thou art 
The mirage of the world. Yet for a glimpse 
Of thee what will not men attempt or dare 
To do? How many weary travellers 
Hast thou drawn on through life's deep mystery 
To vanish when came blighting, adverse winds, 
And leave thy victim on life's desert lost. 
'Tis then adversity her sable cloak 
Doth cast over all scenes around, and death 
Is rather to be born than failure's sting. 
'Tis then the stars that once transcendent shone, 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 45 

And rolled in splendor through the realms of 

night, 
Obscure move across a hazy sky. 
And how oft 'tis adversity doth make 
A man a villain: once loved, now hated; once 

held 
In admiration by the great, now spurned 
E'en by his old-time slaves! Once blessed, 

now cursed— 
The vassal of ambition and its prey. 
O fame! how oft where thy bright hues were 

thrown 
Athwart the sky do mournful shadows come! 
Thou art the emptiest of all earthly prizes 
That ever tempt men on. Yet is it well 
That it is so, for idleness is not 
The dress of duty nor the robe of honor. 

But ah! the taste of victory. To sip 
The mead of popular applause; to have 
The cheek fanned by the breath of majesty; 
To feel the wand of power in the grasp — 
Here are the sweet, seductive bribes held out 
To honesty, that, if they stick, may change 
A modest virtue to a swelling greed. 
Kind Flattery! Thou necromancer sweet! 
Whose perfumed hand doth make the virtuous, 
villains: 



46 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

Kings, despots. Is't tlius that I have changed? 
Who would not risk a life to win a world? 

It was my part in the eternal game 
To gamble with the fates. I Avon, I lost; 
But losing lost more than I e'er had won. 
Ne'er since the sun, O traitorous ambition, 
Was set to rule the universe hath been 
A follower more true to thee than I. 
Through ruins where the hovering spirits 

mocked 
As forth they peered from out the midnight 

shades; 
Through bloody scenes of desolation with 

Earth, hell and heaven in slaughter mixed, I 

kept 
Abreast with thee, and for my faithfulness 

Thou offerest an io;nominious death! 

Torn from my friends. Feared though unhon- 

ored, even 
The beasts may move unchallenged where I 

have 
Not leave to tread. This barren isle shall be 

Napoleon's doom and death. My fall hath 

robbed 
Me of my honesty, and like a thief 
I have my keeper too. This is a way 
To make nature the executioner 
And kill a man with kindness! And this for 

what? 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 47 

Because I was myself. A crime so great 
Few men hath set against their names. I was 
Myself; and therein was I fool and ended 
In the sea. They have confined my body 
But Napoleon's soul is free! 

Such thoughts! 
To stir my harmless anger up and like 
A fool complain. It is my destiny: 
The clash of arms, the deafening cannon's roar, 
The screaming shell, the sound of musketry, 
The din of war, was music in my ears; 
Sweet sounds that hath no echo on this rock. 
I know not what the thickening shadows hide 
But this is plain: Our would-be mocks us all. 

What's past is past. Bring on, grim Future, 

soon, 
The period to this sentence of my life. 



PERFECTION. 

Be thou pure as the lily 

And as chaste as angels are — 

Be thou calm as is the stilly 
Night and steadfast as a star, 

Living sinless life; then I 

Could not love thee if I would. 

Thou art dearer when more nigh 
To my own earth heart less good. 



48 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



THROUGH THE DESERT. 



Silver and gold! silver and gold! 

Thus is the care of the ages lold; 

This is the song of the palace and wold — 
Silver and gold! silver and gold! 



Silver and gold, how they gleam in the gloom, 

Guiding the footsteps of men! 
Far reached the desert as dreary as doom 

All 'round the Three Score and Ten. 

^^ Ho for the mountain^ and Ho for the plain, 
^^Ho for the hog or the fen! 
'•''Ho for the valley and shadoio of Gain, 
* * Onward! the Three Score and Ten. " 

Here, there and all around stretched the hot sand, 

Winds rose to blow and to blind. 
Measureless distance ahead of the band. 

Measureless distance behind. 

Merciless down fell the shafts of the sun. 

Making us stagger and swoon; 
Parched were our lips where water was none, 

Merciless rose the simoon. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 49 

^^ Silver and gold in the mountain and plain! 
*' Silver and gold in the glen! 
^^ Ho for the valley and shadow of Gain! 
'-^Onward! the Three Score and Ten!"^^ 

Into a distance that never grew less, 

Toward a mirage that fled, 
Only our own selves to curse or to bless, 

Heavy our limbs were as lead. 

Weary the day and restless the night, 
Few were the words that we said; 

Close on our wake came the vulture and kite 
Seeking the weak and the dead. 

What is the glory of toiling in vain? 

What of the heroes who lose? 
What of embittered hearts dead on the main? 

What is the answer and whose? 

^^ Seeh what you may and find what yoic can, 
^'Such is the life of men! 
" Cursed is the desert and cursed is the clan, 
^^ Onward! the Three Score and Ten!^' 



Silver and gold! silver and gold! 

Thus is the care of the ages told; 

This is the song of the palace and wold — 
Silver and gold! silver and gold! 



50 SOME REPRINTED PIECES, 



THE GHOST. 



My young friend listen to this tale of woe and 

bleak despair: 
The night winds moan, the midnight bells sound 
ghostly through the air; 
Silence and gloom are in the room 
Together. 

Listen! Was that a footfall? No! 'twas but 

the wind's low moan; 
Brave where others are am I a coward when 
alone? 
No! What care I though shadows lie 
Around me? 

'Twas but imagination that this passing fear 

awoke — 
Imagine thou'rt a slave and thy bonds, strong 
and firm as oak. 

Of unknown length and breadth and 
strength 

Are mighty. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 51 

Away with loneliness and care! I'll fill the 

hours up 
With thoughts of pleasure and with quaffs 
from out the ruddy cup — 

Let none forsake the things that make 
Us happy! 

But dull the lamplight seemeth still with dis- 
mal scenes allied, 
And shadows beckon on the wall and sway 
from side to side; 

And hark! a moan, and then a groan 
Th' silence breaks! 

The lamplight languishes and fades, and noise= 

lessly the door 
Swings back, and through the darkness glides 
a spectre o'er the floor! 

Slowly it raised its arm and gazed 
Upon me. 

*'The grave may keep me and thy work from 

others' sight," it said, 
*'But back to thine own self, in silent moments, 
from the dead. 

Will I return and bid thee learn 
Of hell on earth. 



52 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

"I bid thee think of days in years that long 

ago hath flown, 
When thou didst strike me down to go thy 
way though life alone; 

Ha, ha! thou slave! I made my grave 
In thine own heart! 

"And in that grave from all the world of pry- 
ing eyes shut in, 
I'll gnaw and tear the chords of peace in pay- 
ment of thy sin. 

Two lives thou livest and but one givest 
To thy friends! 

"And weuldst thou dwell in sweet content and 

joy and peace? Never! 
These bonds that make a heaven on earth I come, 
I come to sever! 

Until thy breath is stopped in death 
I'll haunt thee!" 

The voice grew still and the air seem chilled 

as passed the moments by. 
The form recedes — "Hold, who art thou?" in 

accents wild I cry; 

A silence, then '^Thy might have heerC 
Was echoed. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 53 



THE GILDED GRIST. 



DIVES: 

Friend, it is no place to dream 

When you're drowning in the stream — 
Strength and charity doth wait upon the purse. 

Let the teardrops, thick as dew, 

Mark the pathway of the few, 
What is it to thee if people bless or curse? 

Neither can you fight for gold 

When the nerveless hands are old, 
'Neath the banner of the ruler of the earth. 

Let us with one heart enlist 

For our share of gilded grist. 
For the world would know the money we are 
worth. 

THE POET. 

Rest is coming by-and-by, 

Ah, the grave! 
Nature will again come nigh 

That she gave; 
And my honor will they save 
For the annals of the brave, 
While thy name writ on the wave 

It shall die; 
Aye! thy name writ on the wave 

Naught can save, 
For thy naked soul shuns heaven like a knave! 



54 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



GOD PURGE OUR POLITICS ! 



A PROPHECY. 

May God forbid that there should be, 
My native land, but love for thee 

And pride within my breast. 
But thy great battles are unfought. 
Thy sons' devotion in deed and thought 

Fierce struggles yet will test. 

Thou'rt young as nations live, nor we 
Should hide thy faults with flattery — 

Music in ears are dull; 
That stamps as truth what only seems, 
That makes realities of dreams, 

And honest doubting lulls. 

There is but one way to a life 
That's truly strong, and evils rife 

Must be cast off even 
Though they be rooted in the heart, 
And trials and strifes will be the part 

Of nations as of men. 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 55 

And war will many a soul set free 
In the behalf of liberty 

Ere truth shall grandly lead. 
Peace guards corruption, but an end 
Will crashing come to ways that tend 

To avaricious greed. 

And men will buy their way to power 
And be the idols of the hour 

Where honor casts no beam; 
As long as men who think can see 
No menace to our liberty — 

As long as patriots dream! 



THE FLIRT'S MEDITATION. 

Back across the meadows 

Where the flowers died, 
Comes the trill o'er southern hill 

Through the countryside; 
And as one just after 

Dreamless slumbers break. 
Spring is 'twixt her doubtings mixt, 

Only half awake. 



56 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

Not a song but sweeter 

Than a song could be — 
A note or two that echoes through 

The soul of you and me! 
Breathing forth a promise 

Of summer sun and shade, 
When daisies bright and lilies white 

Will bloom adown the glade. 

Who will mourn for winter 
With its snow and sleet? 

Who will wee}> when flowers j^eep 
The smile of spring to meet? 

And there is a happy- 
Charm to summer lent 

That's dear to me — I long to see 
The life of winter spent ! 

For who can whisper, robin. 

One sweet or tender word. 
When flowers are dead and birds are fled 

And never a chirp is heard? 
But time is sweetest music 

With never a note that mars. 
And life is bliss when lovers kiss 

Beneath the summer stars! 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 57 



SINCE I MET YOU. 



Rosier is the morning, burnished 

By the hand of day, 
Brighter is the pathway furnished 

Phoebus on his way; 
Softer is the moonlight streaming 

High-winged cirrus through — 
Happier heart and sweeter dreaming 

Since I met you! 

Sweeter is the thrush's singing 

When the dew is deep, 
Sweeter memory's kiss aclinging 

On the lips of sleep. 
Redder is the rose, and whiter 

Is the lily true, 
And Endymion's smile is brighter 

Since 1 met you! 

Lovlier the damask plush is 

On the coated peach, 
While the harvest apple blushes 

At the farmer's reach; 
And the true-blue harebell never 

Had such lovely hue — 
Bat my heart is lost forever 

Since I met you! 



58 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 



AFFAIRE D'AMOUR. 



A MAGAZINE IDYL. 

O, he kissed me! Yes he did — 

On the cheek. 
And my falling lashes hid 

Eyes so meek. 
And the blood with quickening rush 
Changed the spot to rosy flush — 
O, what secrets in a blush 

Women sj)eak! 

Where the oak and ivy grown 

Round it twine, 
When the silver dewdrops shone 

On the vine, 
Said my lover "see yon star 
Hanging where the moonbeams are — 
*A11 is fair in love and war' 

Emeline!" 



And he kissed me while I gazed — 

Was it fair? 
Honest Gupid was amazed 

I declare. 
Modest maidens near and far, 
O, what stratagems there are! 
*'A11 is fair in love and war" 

So beware! 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 59 



WHEN THE APPLE BLOSSOM'S FALLING. 



When the apple blossom's falling from the trees! 

And the petals flutter downward in the breeze; 
Then is sunshine overflowing 
All the flowers that are growing, 

And the bloom holds out its offering to the bees. 

Grandest time, some people call it, of the year; 

Then the humming birds and bobolinks appear; 
And there is a touch of blessing 
In the southern wind's caressing. 

With its whisperings of love, and warmth and 
cheer. 

Just before the lilacs burst into perfume — 
Standing there before the window in their 
bloom! 
And the whippoorwill is calling 
Where the meadow-stream is falling 
'Neath the willow arched above it like a plume. 

When the warmth of youth forever from us flees. 
Memory's wings shall waft us back to days like 
these; 



6o SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

And again among the flowers 
Will we pass the golden hours, 
When the apple blossom's falling-from the trees! 



ALL IS WELL. 



Let the cold winds chilly blow, 

All is well, 
Let the frost come and the snow, 

All is well; 
God is King and guiding right, 
God is Love in bloom or blight, 
Let the storm rage at its height. 

All is well! 

Let the gloom of sorrow roll. 

All is well. 
Naught can overcome the soul. 

All is well; 
The stars are hid the night is cold 
But the lost without the fold 
Shall be found just as of old, 

All is well! 



SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 6i 



1 LOVE THEE, MUSE, BUT LEAVE ME. 



Muse! thy voice comes to my spirit 
Sweetly sad, I know not why — 

Holds me trembling while I hear it, 
Happy with a sigh. 

Thou dost paint the rose-cheeked morning 

Sleeping on the eastern hill; 
In her hair, as gems adorning, 

Dewdrops sparkle still. 

With her pillowed cheek that presses 

Softly on her rounded arm, 
While her lips the dawn caresses 

With his breathings warm. 

Thou dost hold this up before me 
And dost snatch it down again, 

Bidding baser thoughts come o'er me 
Of the earth and men. 

And my winged fancy settles 
In among life's selfish things, 



62 SOME REPRINTED PIECES. 

And I walk as one midst nettles, 
Feeling deep the stings. 

Muse, O leave me, I would follow 
Some pursuit of lower aim; 

Tempt some other with the hollow 
Vanishings of fame. 

O, that that content, completest 
In the soul that looks not high, 

Would come to me, for thy sweetest 
Song is half a sigh! 

But thou reachest farther, wider 
Than the limits of the sky; 

Thou hast bound me as the spider 
Binds the hapless flyl 



IN LAMECH'S REIGN. 



Translated from recently discovered and very valuable 
manuscript poetry of the Ante-Diluvians 

BY 

- A. GLANVILLE. 



"In Lamech's Reign is a Biblical poem of interest and 
merit."— Toledo Blade. 

"All the virtues, indeed, are so distinguished and ap- 
proved in Mr. Glanville's poem that we may well overlook 
some trifling errors."— JV. T. Sun. 

"In Lamech's Reign is, as its title suggests, a recital half 
epic, half dramatic in form, of deeds supposed to have talc- 
en place before the deluge The poem before us is grace- 
ful in style, and human in feeling. On every page you feel 
the charm of poetry, even though you cannot always define 
just where it lies. We quote Jubal's description of the des- 
cent of love to earth," etc.— The Stylus. 

"Mr. Glanville, following Mark Twain's joke in ascribing 
his history of Joan of Arc to a mythical Sieur Le Conte, 
would have us believe it a 'translation from antediluvian 
poetry' — The poem is founded on Biblical history, and 
relates the love affairs of the two sons of Lamech, Jubal, 
father of such as handle the harp and organ, and Tubal 
Cain, the mighty warrior and cunning artificer, and inci- 
dentally portrays three of the governing attributes of man- 
kind, Love, Ambition and Patriotism. The work shows 
considerable thought and a measure of poetic feeling."— 
Detroit Free Press. 



Illustrated, 16mo, cloth, postpaid, 15 cents. 



E* jfrancoeur & Compani?, 

CHICRGO. 



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